Results 3,281-3,300 of 4,698 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Railway Safety Issues (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I know the Minister of State is aware that there are approximately 1,000 railway crossings that are manually operated across the State. This is a problem. While there has been progress, I am concerned when I hear the Minister of State say this matter is the responsibility of Iarnród Éireann. It is the responsibility of the Department and the Minister of State should tell...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Railway Safety Issues (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I mentioned Athenry, but there was also an issue because there was no manual override of the automatic system. This is another problem in terms of health and safety. This was promised at Athenry, but it has not yet been delivered. In a situation where a train service is delayed or some other unforeseen event occurs, there should be a backup system to help resolve the issue. I accept that...

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister of State mentioned the Finance Bill. We know this measure is contained in that Bill. Nobody is saying this proposal is being introduced without having been previously flagged. The point we are making is that motor tax receipts should go to local authorities for the purposes outlined. I find it difficult to understand the reason Fianna Fáil, which introduced the emissions...

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I am opposed to the Bill but do not have an argument with the amendment the Minister of State wishes to propose. I am satisfied with that. On Committee State, we tabled an amendment that was ruled out of order on the basis that there was a cost to the State. I firmly believe many people were let down in the motor industry. In 2008, in particular, when people were asked by the previous...

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I disagree with what is occurring. The €1 billion or so should be going to local authorities to deal with the roads, potholes, etc. Some €150 million of this is to be used to assist in paying off the national debt. I object to this, and there was an amendment put to that effect.

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I do not believe that the Title of this Bill reflects what is occurring. I certainly agree with Deputy Murphy in that regard. That €150 million is being taken from approximately €1 billion in revenue to pay off the national debt is a scam and a shame. In our constituencies, we note the number of potholes and roads requiring maintenance. There are unfinished estates on which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Sponsorship of Major Sporting Events by Drinks Industry: Discussion with FAI, GAA and IRFU (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: They were very small. It is just that the main one-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Sponsorship of Major Sporting Events by Drinks Industry: Discussion with FAI, GAA and IRFU (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the delegates for their presentations and acknowledge the huge contribution their organisations make to society through sports and all of the issues surrounding it. Having heard the contributions of the three delegates my first impression is that the general consensus is that a ban on alcohol sponsorship would have a huge affect on the organisations, although in terms of what they...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Issues (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has met with representatives of the photo ID industry to address their concerns over a threat to their livelihood by changes to the driver licence format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15049/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Anti-Social Behaviour (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the work he has done with Dublin Bus to help tackle anti-social behaviour on or around bus services. [15048/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Property Taxation Exemptions (27 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale behind the exclusion of estates (details supplied) in Dublin from the list of estates exempt from the local property tax. [15496/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Banking Sector (21 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress being made on the Programme for Government commitment to seek to dispose of the public stakes in the banks as soon as possible at the best possible return to the taxpayer. [14064/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Resolution Processes (21 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is acceptable that a State-owned bank is forcing mortgage holders to sign non-disclosure clauses which contain indefinite time periods of confidentiality before the bank will engage in mortgage restructuring discussions with the mortgage holder. [14077/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: The Government should stop paying the CEO of a bank more than €800,000 a year. It is a disgrace.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: The Government would need to cap itself somewhere.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Social Media: Discussion (Resumed) with Google and Digital Rights Ireland (20 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: In some programmes, the broadcaster reads out the tweets and they also appear on screen. Is there any difference in law between the two? I always believed that there was a delay, during which time the texts were monitored. Is the broadcaster and its background staff responsible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Social Media: Discussion (Resumed) with Google and Digital Rights Ireland (20 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the delegation for its presentation. I know it says that traditional rights must be protected online as well offline. Are there any laws that are missing with regard to this? It mentioned different areas where there are many protections but are there any areas where protections are missing? If someone is using a computer of smartphone, are there any powers to seize those devices...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Social Media: Discussion (Resumed) with Google and Digital Rights Ireland (20 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: Overseas intelligence networks identified particular words. Does the delegation believe this is acceptable? Does it think people should be able to monitor phone calls in a similar way? I was going to talk about Twitter because some stations have a slight delay so they can monitor messages before they broadcast them. Is that the normal process? Does the delegation have an opinion as to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Social Media: Discussion (Resumed) with Google and Digital Rights Ireland (20 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Ms Duke for her presentation. YouTube has a massive network and a phenomenal number of people use it. It has enhanced society massively, but, as politicians, we always hear about the negatives. We do not hear the good comments. We constantly receive representations about bullying, suicide, abuse and defamation. I assume the company has a legal department to offer advice on these...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 Mar 2013)

Dessie Ellis: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that lamp treatment facilities for psoriasis patients are not in use in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, because of non-deployment of staff; if he will address this as a matter of urgency with the Health Service Executive and the hospital in order that this treatment can be made available to the patients who need it; and if...